Case for cigarettes and matches in original packages



June 1,1926. v 1,587,178

J. E. PETERSQN CASE FOR CIGARETTES AND MATCHES IN ORIGINAL PACKAGESFiled Sept. 28", 1925 Patented June l,

UNITED sraras new PATENT oFFicE.

JOSEPH E. PETERSON, or ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

Application filed September The present invention has for its object toproduce a simple and novel case in which a package of cigarettes and abox of matches or other lighting means may be housed and carried aboutin ones pocket, the cigarettes and the matches or lighting means beingconveniently removable for use when the case is open.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a case in the form of a shallowbox having a lid, the box being of a width approximately equal to thewidth of an ordinary package of cigarettes, but considerably longer thansuch a package, so as to'leave room within the same beyond the end ofthe cigarette package for a box of matches. The body and the covermember of the case are preferably hinged together to per- I mit them tobe swung relatively to each other in order to open and shut the case.The body of the case is provided with suitable means for holding apackage of cigarettes in one end, and the cover memberis provided withmeans for holding the box of matches or other lighting means in theopposite end. Therefore, when the case is opened, the lighting means isswung out of the body of the case so as to leave a space into which thecigarettes may be withdrawn from the package. Where the lighting meansconsists of a box of safety matches, the side of the cover, at the longfree edge,

preferably so shaped that the inner member of the match box may bewithdrawn laterally, while the surrounding shell remains clamped inplace.

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterizedwill hereinafter he pointed out with particularity in the claims; but,for a full understanding of my invention and of its objects andadvantages, reference may be had to the following detailed descriptiontaken in connection with. the accompanying drawing, wherein V Figure lis a plan view of one of my improved devices opened, showing cigarettesin an original package and a match box,

some of the cigarettes being partially withdrawn from the package andthe match 28, 1925. Serial No. 58,966.

box being open; Fig. 2 is a view partly ,in side elevation and partly insection of the case closed; Fig. 3 is a section taken approximately, onthebroken line 33 of Fig; 1, the match box and the cigarettes are soproportioned that the depth or thickness of the case is slightly greaterthan the thickness of an ordinary package of popular cigarettes having aflexible wrapper or container, ,a width slightly greater than the widthof such package, and a length somewhat greater than the length or heightof the package plus the width of an ordinary box of safety matches.

E In one end of the box member is arranged a suitable device for holdinga package of cigarettes in place. In the arrangement being omitted; andFig. i is a detail of the shown, thereis welded or otherwise fastened 7into thebox member an inverted U-shape l yoke 4 extending transverselyof the box; the distance between the cross member of the yoke and thebottom of the box being substantially the same as the thickness of apackage of cigarettes. \Vhen placed in the case, one end' of thecontainer A is torn away and the package is slipped underneaththe yokeas shown in Fig. l, ith the closed end of the package abutting againstor at least iyingnear the end of the box. Beyond the open end of thepackageis a comparativelylong space 5 that permits the cigarettes B tobewithdrawn from the package without removing the lat- .ter from the case.

In that portion of the cover that overlies the space 5 when the case isclosed is a suitable holding means for a box C of safety matches. In thearrangement shown, the longitudinal free side wall of the cover is cutaway, as indicated at 6, for a distance slightly greater than the widthof the match box, or at least somewhat greater than the width of thetray D of the box. l lxtcnding transversely across the cover on theinner side, at opposite ends of the open ing are walls 7 and 8,preferably of spring metal. When a match box is laid transversely of thecover and pressed into place between these walls, it is firmly grippedbetween the latter, so that the case may be opened and closed withoutpermitting the matches to drop out. lVhen the case is closed, thecigarettes being all pushed down into their original container, the boxof matches lies in the space 5 just beyond the end of the package ofcigarettes. The walls 7 and 8 may conveniently be in the form of wingsat the sides of a long flap 9 formed out of material of the cover andintegral with the cover, the flap being bent inwardly througli theopening 6 so as to lie parallel with the flat top wall of the cover. InFig. 1 the wings 7 and 8 are shown in dotted lines in their flattenedcondition, lying in the plane of the flap 9, before being bent at rightangles to the latter.

In order that the opening 6 may be closed when the case is closed, Iprovide the free long side wall of the box with an upward projection 10that fits into the opening 6 when the cover is closed.

Any suitable form of catch may be provided for locking the cover in itsclosed position. -In the arrangement shown, there is on the inner sideof the free long side wall of the box a. spring plate 11, riveted orwelded at one end to the said wall, as indicated at 12. The free end ofthe plate has an car 13 projecting upwardly beyond the top of the box,the ear being provided at its upper end with a hole 14. The free end ofthe plate also has a stud or button 15 extending outwardly through ahole in the side wall of the box, to be engaged by the thumb or fingerof the user for the purpose of pressing the free end of the plateinwardly. The cover has on the inner side of its free long side wall apin 16 in position to ride down past the outer side of the ear 13 whenthe case is closed, pressing the spring plate back until the pin comesopposite the hole 14; whereupon the plate springs outwardly so as toengage the pin or projection in the opening and lock the cover.

Instead of a box of matches, my invention contemplates the use of anykind of a lighting means, although I prefer to arrange the case tocontain matches as these, as well as the package of cigarettes, areeverywhere available.

It will be seen that my improved case permits a smoker always to havecigarettes and matches associated with each other, so that it isunnecessary to hunt around for a match in order to light a cigarette.Furthermore, neither the matches nor the cigarettes need be removed fromtheir original containers in which they are purchased and, in fact,nothing need be done to either the matches or the cigarettes, exceptthat the end of the cigarette package must be torn open. Consequentlythe user simply places a box of safety matches in the cover and apackage of cigarettes, opened at the end, in the box portion of thecase. By dividing the depth of the case equally between the box portionand the cover, the package of cigarettes will project above the top ofthe box and the box of matches will project above the sides of the coverwhen the case is opened, making it very easy for cigarettes and matchesto be removed. As a matter of fact, the upper layer of cigarettes lieswholly above the box and can be drawn out lengthwise without touchingany portion of the case. After the upper layer is removed, the remainingcigarettes are loose enough so that they may readily be lifted up out ofthe box after being partially withdrawn from the package. Access to thematches is obtained by simply pushing the tray outwardly through theopening 6 inside of the cover, there being room at the inner end of thematch box, above the hinge in the case, for engagement of a finger withthe inner end of the tray, because the box is of much greater depth orthickness than the cover.

lVhile I have illustrated and described with particularity only a singlepreferred form of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to theexact structural details thus illustrated and described; but intend tocover all forms and arrangements which come within the definitions of myinvention constituting the appended claims.

I claim 1. A pocket case divided longitudinally into two halves to forma body member and a cover member, means for securing cigarettes in anoriginal package in one end of one of said members, means for securing amatch box transversely of the other end of the other member, the lattermember having an opening in its side wall to permit the tray of a matchbox to be withdrawn through the same, said case having a depthapproximately equal to the thickness of the package of cigarettes and alength at least as great as the combined length of such package and thewidth of the match box, the member to which the package of cigarettes isfastened having on one side wall a projection to close the opening inthe side wall of the other member when the case is closed.

2. A pocket case divided longitudinally into two halves to form a bodymember and a cover member, means for securing cigallli i'ettes in anoriginal package in one end of thickness of a package of cigarettes anda said case means for securing a match 00X length at least as great asthe combined transversely oi the other end of said case, length of suchpackage and the Width of the said case having an opening in its sideWall match box. I

to permit the tray of a match box to be In testimony whereof, I signthis specifiwithdrawn through the same, said case havcation.

ing a depth approximately equal to the JOSEPH E. PETERSON.

